Can Strikeforce and the UFC learn from each other?

Maggie Hendricks of Yahoo Sports was in attendance at Strikeforce Lawler vs. Shields and she came away with some lessons for Strikeforce and the UFC. 

What Strikeforce can learn from the UFC

-- Cut out the catchweight nonsense, and make fighters defend their belts. Look, we realize that at the moment, Strikeforce's roster is on the thin side. But no fighter should take on the risk of a fight for it to mean nothing but a paycheck. Jake Shields has a title belt. It needs to be contested. Raid small promotions, pull some fighters from Japan, make more of the partnership with Affliction, do anything possible to avoid more nonsensical matchups.

Isn't the main event for UFC 99 a catchweight bout? I guess that's what happens when you have two big names that are stuck in fighter limbo. 

What the UFC can learn from Strikeforce

-- Loosen up a little. UFC and WEC events are tight ships -- almost too tight. They allow access to a small group of media when there are many more who have proven to be good, professional members of the media. If they screw up, then fine, toss 'em, but not allowing access isn't good for the UFC, WEC or MMA.

To rehash the old media vs. new media debate the answer here is unequivocally yes. Zuffa doesn't have to credential everyone with a blog but they should recognize legitimate on-line media that help to shape and report the MMA news cycle. Two members of SBN come to mind, BloodyElbow and MMAMania.